College Heights Herald, March 18, 2011

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PHOTO COLUMN ON PAGE 2

FRIDAY, MARCH 18, 2011 • College Heights Herald • Vol. 86, No. 40 • Western Kentucky University

S IS FOR SMOKER | PAGE 5

THE REEL DEAL | SPORTS

BASEBALL | SPORTS

Leal Ambriz files for SGA president By MIKE STUNSON news@chherald.com

For more than a week, Billy Stephens assumed he was running unopposed for president in the upcoming Student Government Association elections. Stephens now has competition from Diego Leal Ambriz, who filed after the deadline was extended. The original deadline was March 4, but SGA Chief Justice Dajana Crockett decided on Monday to extend the LEAL AMBRIZ deadline to turn in applications to Tuesday. She said not enough people turned theirs in before spring break. Stephens and Leal Ambriz will face off in the elections, which are March 29-30 on TopNet. Leal Ambriz said he was initially unsure if he had the time to run for president, but after a meeting with his adviser, he decided to apply. SEE SGA, PAGE 3

Bill allows for new doctoral programs

JOSH MAUSER/HERALD

Associate psychology professor Tony Paquin got these tradtional skirts while serving in the Peace Corps in Tonga from 2002 to 2004. Paquin said the kiekie (pronounced “kia-kia”), a woven skirt, is a traditional women’s garment. The Ta’ovala, the rolled skirt, is traditionally for men.

a ofpiece the

Application Applicants go to www.peacecorps.gov to start the application, which includes essays, references, employment history and a resume. This step also includes a background check and a Health Status Review.

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Interview Within two weeks, applicants are contacted for an interview to discuss job opportunities, flexibility, cultural awareness and commitment.

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Nomination A recruiter decides if the applicant is qualified. If selected, the applicant is nominated to serve in a specific region of the world and work area.

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Review process The applicant must get a medical evaluation, including a doctor’s visit and completed medical history forms. Recruiters decide if applicants are medically and legally qualified to serve in their region of placement.

Peace Corps provides volunteers travel, service opportunites By ZIRCONIA ALLEYNE diversions@chherald.com

This fall, 30 students are expected to enter as the inaugural class of the doctorate in the physical therapy program at WKU. During the last session of the Kentucky General Assembly, legislation passed that will allow WKU to create a doctoral degree in the physical therapy program. Senate Bill 130 was approved by the Senate, 34-2, in February and was passed unanimously by the House of Representatives on March 4, said Robbin Taylor, vice president for Public Affairs. The bill will allow universities across the state of Kentucky to offer up to three advanced practice doctorate degree programs, according to the bill. SEE BILL, PAGE 3

SEE PEACE, PAGE 3

By CAITLIN CARTER

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world March marks the 50th anniversary of the Peace Corps, which President John F. Kennedy created in 1960 for students to “serve their country in the cause of peace by living and working in developing countries.” Matthew Vaughan, a senior from Mexico, Mo., plans to serve after he graduates. “It’s been a huge passion of mine to try and have a huge impact on the world,” Vaughan said. The Peace Corps sends trained volunteers to more than 70 countries to help with development and to better understand other cultures and help other cultures better understand Americans. Nearly 130 WKU alumni have served in the Peace Corps thus far, according to information from Christine Torres, a spokeswoman for the Chicago Regional Peace Corps Office. There are about four WKU alumni currently serving. Vaughan decided to apply for the Peace Corps because it combines two of his passions: impact and traveling. He has been accepted and is waiting to find out where he will be sent to serve. Like Vaughan, some students find the Peace Corps to be a good option after college because it’s a chance to serve their country before starting a career or going to graduate school.

news@chherald.com

Peace Corps application process

Invitation About two to three months before departure, a placement officer sends the applicant an invitation for a specific country.It includes a detailed job description and a departure date.

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6 Source: Peace Corps catalog Illustrations by Samantha Rainey/Herald

Preparation and departure In a group, volunteers travel to their assigned country and begin incountry training.

Hill works first commission meeting on board By TAYLOR HARRISON news@chherald.com

CHRIS WILSON/HERALD

Melinda Hill sits at her first Board of Commissioners meeting on Tuesday night at City Hall. Hill, a Warren County native and WKU alumni, is the second WKU instructor serving on the board.

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Tuesday’s Bowling Green Board of Commissioners meeting was the first for Melinda Hill, a WKU instructor and executive-in-residence of Information Systems. Hill was sworn in as the newest Bowling Green city commissioner on March 3 after being chosen from a pool of 18 applicants. Hill graduated from Warren East High School and earned her Master of Business Administration from WKU. She said she wasn’t too nervous heading into her first meeting. “I was fine once it started,” she said. Hill said it helped that she got to start off the meeting, even though it was just to say the Pledge of Allegiance. As the meeting began, Hill took her place, two seats down from Mayor Joe Denning. Denning introduced Hill at the beginning of the meeting and welcomed her as the new member of the board. Denning also noted that Hill’s first com-

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mission meeting brought more cameras and press to City Hall than normal. Hill asked questions and remained involved in the discussion throughout the meeting. She said her position as a WKU instructor won’t affect her decision-making as a city commissioner. “I want what’s best for Western, but more importantly I want what’s best for the citizens of Bowling Green,” Hill said. Hill also does not think her position at WKU was what led her to be chosen as the newest city commissioner. She said “it was never even mentioned in the interview,” and she has done a lot more during her career, such as working at a Fortune 500 company and a non-profit organization. Hill also said she thinks the city of Bowling Green and WKU “have a good working relationship now,” and that's a practice she wants to continue. She said this is important because WKU is Bowling Green’s biggest employer. SEE HILL, PAGE 2

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COLLEGE HEIGHTS HERALD

MARCH 18, 2011

after

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"After class" is a weekly photo essay that shows a side of professors that students might not normally see.

BY CHRIS WILSON/HERALD

Marie Guthrie has been showing off her many faces this week. As an English professor and graduate of WKU with a theater major, Guthrie also works as an actress at the Phoenix Theatre, working on a production about once a semester. In the past few months, she’s been dedicated to playing about 10 characters in “The 39 Steps,” a comedy put on by the Fountain Square Players and directed by Bill Green. “This is a fun part, and the cast is great,” she said.

Guthrie plays alongside WKU sophomore Cody Clifton from the Theatre and Dance department. “That’s what’s so great about community theater: Anyone can be involved,” Guthrie said. “Our eccentricities match.” Guthrie also has experience in directing and stage managing plays, and she is a founding member of the Fountain Square Players. When she was 14, she had a part in the first Fountain Square Players production.

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Commissioner Brian “Slim” Nash was pleased with the way her first meeting went. Nash voted yes in the 3-1 decision amongst commissioners and Denning to bring Hill on board. “When I cast my vote selecting Melinda, I knew she was a conscientious type person who would study the issues, and she showed that last night by asking what I thought were very thoughtful questions,” he said. Commissioner Bill Waltrip said he also thought the meeting went well. While Waltrip, also a WKU instructor, voted against bringing Hill on to the board, he said this is because he felt strongly that the position should have gone to someone who had been previously considered. He made that decision before Hill had even applied for the position. “I’ve known Melinda for a long time,” Waltrip said. “I know she’ll do a fine job.”

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MARCH 19, 2011

COLLEGE HEIGHTS HERALD

Student 'always took care of others' By LINDZAY KRIZ news@chherald.com

Transylvania University sophomore Jennifer Montgomery had planned on meeting Steven Jones at the movies today. Montgomery originally met Jones, a Henderson senior, in 2009. They dated for a while before amicably parting ways because of the distance between their college towns. They had plans to rekindle their romance by seeing a movie. Jones died at about 4 p.m. on Sunday. Attempts to reach his family were unsuccessful. His death came as a shock to Montgomery, who said she'll continue to not believe it. “He always took care of others,” she said. “He never needed help being taken care of.” The two met in September 2009 when Montgomery came to Bowling Green to visit her brother at his apartment. “I saw him there with the guys and thought he was just a new friend of theirs,” she said. “I didn’t know he was the new roommate.” Jones went on to ask Montgomery on a date. “He said ‘there was something about the pink you were wearing,’” Montgomery said,

explaining that she was wearing a neon pink shirt when they met. One of her favorite memories from her time with Jones was the time she needed a ride from Lexington to Bowling Green for a party, and he picked her up. “We talked the entire way t h e r e while listening to crappy music,” she JONES said. “It was an experience you never would’ve thought that you’d have. It was the most fun I’ve had in a very long time.” When Montgomery and Jones would hang out, she Jones would always lend her the jacket he got when studying abroad in England. “He would always say I looked better in his clothes than in my clothes,” she said. “And I always thought, ‘Aww, I tried.’” Burlington senior Zack Ryle was also shocked by the death of his friend and former roommate. The two met freshmen year, and they decided to room together. “We both liked sports, we were both studious, and we had lots of good times too,” he said. “He’s one of

the best roommates I’ve ever had.” Ryle said he remembers Jones as an avid soccer fan whose favorite team was Manchester United. “I would always come into a room to watch TV, and he would already be in there for I don’t know how long,” he said. Ryle said the two remained close until Jones studied abroad. After that they occasionally played poker together and texted every so often. “I hadn’t talked to him in two months,” he said. “That’s something I’ll regret.” Bowling Green junior Jamie Stewart went to high school with Jones, but said she didn’t really get to know him until Halloween of last year. “A group of us went to a haunted bridge,” she said. “He told some scary stories.” Stewart said that she is a religious person, and she shared her faith with Jones last August. She said she was glad to learn that he had recently joined a church. “His relationship with God was important to him,” she said. Stewart said she will always remember Jones as a wonderful guy who loved everyone. “There was something about him,” she said. “He was a nice person all the time. It’s why people liked him.”

PEACE CONTINUED FROM FRONT

“Not everyone is going to travel and live in an unfamiliar country for 27 months,” Vaughan said. In 2007, Bowling Green graduate student Rachel Rudolph went to Paraguay as an environmental educator after she graduated from University of Nebraska-Lincoln. She taught schoolchildren about the environment. Rudolph said she knew about the Peace Corps but didn’t think about it until her junior year of college when a recruiter spoke to her class. She started thinking about it and applied. “The application process was frustrating,” Rudolph said. The process, which typically takes 6 to 12 months, starts with a 30page application online. In September 2007, Rudolph traveled to Paraguay with a group for three months of training. They learned the language, trained for their jobs and met their host families. “They don’t want you clinging to the other volunteers,” she said. She planted a tree nursery with elementary school students. “I remember the teacher saying, ‘In 10 years, you can come back here and they’ll be huge,’” Rudolph said. “It

SGA CONTINUED FROM FRONT

“I figured out how many classes I need to take, and since my term as (Alpha Tau Omega fraternity) president ends in the beginning of the school year, I would be able to devote enough time to SGA as president,” Leal Ambriz said. Leal Ambriz, a former exchange student, said he wants to give back to WKU. “WKU has done so much for me, and ever since I have been here people have been so welcoming,” he said. “I am looking for a way to give back, and when I joined SGA I knew I could do that. As president I could do even more.” Stephens said he was happy when he found out Leal Ambriz was also running for president. “I want competition,” he said. “If I have an opponent, it helps out students, and it helps out

was a really good moment that they were going to take care of these trees in a way to remember me.” WKU faculty members have been Peace Corps volunteers, too. Associate psychology professor Tony Paquin served in the Kingdom of Tonga, near Fiji and Samoa, from 2002 to 2004. “I quit my job to serve my country,” said Paquin, who had been teaching in Chicago. “It was not a popular decision at first with my parents and girlfriend.” Paquin said he thought of the Peace Corps as an alternative to the military. “For some people, if the military isn’t your calling, this is another way to serve,” he said. Lawrence Alice, an associate biology professor and coordinator for the WKU Peace Corps program, said he first thought of the Peace Corps as a back-up plan when he was an undergraduate student. “I became obsessed the more I read about Peace Corps and the more people I talked to,” Alice said. “All I wanted to do was Peace Corps.” Alice served in Niger, Africa, as a research botanist from 1990 to 1992. Vaughan said he is excited about serving in the Peace Corps and preparing for the next phase of his life. “It’s almost like high school,” he said. “It’s a new stage of life that you haven’t experienced yet.” campaigning because we can both get the name of SGA out there. It makes me better too since it is not just handed to me.” Jessie said he expects it to be a very competitive presidential election. “Both of them been in the organization for a while and have been very passionate since day one,” he said. Those running for the other two executive positions remain unchanged. Current President Colton Jessie said there are now more than 36 candidates running for the 36 SGA Senate spots. The election would have been uncontested before the deadline was extended. Kendrick Bryan and Katie Stillwell are running for executive vice president, while Devon Hilderbrandt is running unopposed for administrative vice president. Campaigning began on Tuesday. Jessie said it’s important that everybody who filed “hit the ground running.”

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BILL CONTINUED FROM FRONT

Taylor said WKU is considering the doctor of physical therapy program, the educational leadership doctoral program and the doctor of nursing practice, among other programs. She said the next step in the legislative process is getting the bill signed by Governor Steve Beshear. “I don’t know when the governor will sign SB 130,” Taylor said. “The last communication I received was that they were hoping to get to it (Wednesday). We are monitoring that.” President Gary Ransdell said discussion about a particular number of programs only came up this year as the University of Kentucky became engaged in the subject of practice-based doctorates. Ransdell said practicebased doctorate degree programs, unlike researchbased programs, prepare students for work in a particular field that requires a license. All three programs that will be offered by WKU are practice-based. Schools like the University of Kentucky and the University of Louisville have oftentimes expressed displeasure in other universities in the state gaining more doctoral degree programs, Ransdell said. But he said this rivalry is not of great importance to WKU. “To me, this is irrelevant,” Ransdell said. “I don’t think we need to be worrying about what kind of institution UK or U of L or any other institution is. We need to address our needs and what Kentucky needs.” Ransdell said what Kentucky needs right now is more physical therapists. “The first students will graduate in 2015 — one year after national healthcare legislation,” he said. “This will create about 500,000 more insured Kentuckians. There’s a shortage of therapists now, so you can only imagine what the demand will be like then.” The program will be financially self-sufficient, with tuition expected to be $18,000, Ransdell said. “No other program will have to worry about this program draining funds away from them,” he said. During the General Assembly, Senate Bill 7 was passed, which also impacts higher education, Taylor said. Known as the transparency bill, universities will now be required to provide certain financial information and board minutes on their websites, Taylor said. She said WKU has now implemented this, and a section for the information will soon be created for the home page.

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3.18.11

College Heights Herald • Western Kentucky University • Page 4

COLUMN

T & B

EDITORIAL CARTOON

OPS

Silent abuse makes the most noise A few years ago, I listened closely, and uncomfortably to be honest, as a good friend revealed to me that she had been sexually abused. She struggled for years with keeping it a secret. But she finally decided that concealing it would only hurt more than it would help. Many women, including an overwhelming demographic of college women (women 16-24 experience the highest rate of intimate partner violence), suffer in silence. The scenario plays out in many hip-hop lyrics from Nas’ “Reason,” to Ludacris’ “Runaway Love,” to Tupac’s “Brenda’s Got a Baby.” Though the artists’ delivery and music somehow seem to make hearing stories of sexual abuse more tolerable, once the track stops and the words really sink in, the subject matter ANGELA OLIVER is just as appalling to Rhyme & Reason think about. opinion@chherald.com And it’s even more appalling that in so many instances, sexual abuse and domestic violence is ignored. This season holds some irony. March is designated to celebrate women’s history; April follows as sexual assault awareness month. Yet the respect for women in the relationship and sexual aspects continues to hinge on abuse in thousands of cases. This is not to say men don’t suffer these abuses as well, but in honor of March, I should highlight the longoppressed gender. Among college campuses, one in four women have been victims of rape or attempted rape. Of those, 42 percent told no one about the assault and only five percent filed police reports, according to the National College Women Sexual Victimization Survey. The underreported incidents probably result from the high use of drugs or alcohol at the time of attack, leading many victims to blame themselves. I firmly discourage irresponsible alcohol and drug use for this reason, but intoxication is no excuse for committing a crime. We are all old and conscientious enough to distinguish between right and wrong. Another factor may be that 90 percent of all victims of sexual violence know their attacker — boyfriends, classmates or co-workers. It’s frightening to think that those closest to us usually cause the most harm. But there are campus and community resources available for those in need. The Counseling and Testing Center offers individual, confidential sessions with licensed counselors. Contact Elizabeth Madariaga at 745-3159 for help or other resources. As college students, many women suffer abuse because they do not have as much experience with relationships to know that abuse is unhealthy. Because many of us are away from our families, our usual support system, victims may feel isolated. That is when being a good friend is highly important. The WKU Police’s 2010 Campus Security and Fire data states that there have been 16 forcible rape reports and one attempted rape report from 20072009 on the main campus. But even one is too many. So I encourage you all to speak up for yourselves or your friends if sexual assault or verbal or physical abuse in any relationship is encountered. The most valuable thing you can do for yourself is to contact the police. And the most valuable thing to do for a friend is believe them. Then reassure them, empower them and help them find professional guidance. Domestic violence and sexual assault are not issues we should run away from. We should confront them fearlessly. It could be the difference between life and death of a friend, whether by an attacker’s hands or by depression and guilt that could lead to one taking their own life.

OTTOMS

TOPS to seniors graduating in two months. We’re sure it’s exciting to see what your next chapter holds.

BOTTOMS to graduation just being two months away. Hey, at least you have a little time to enjoy before entering “the real world.”

TOPS to a few more hours of sunlight.

BOTTOMS to the postspring break blues.

COMMENTARY

Take no breaks in making change Civil Rights activist Angela Davis once said we can’t assume that making a difference decades ago will allow you to live on the effects of that difference forever. It made me think about my mother’s generation and my own, with regard to how comfortable and content we all have become. Vulgar depictions of women and minorities flood our plasma television screens while derogatory music fills our ears. There’s nothing wrong with being at ease and satisfied with your lot in life and reaping the benefits of hard labor; but the benefits of labor are meaningless if you quit. I will be forever grateful for the Civil Rights movement, protesters and those who fought in any war and lost their lives. I am thankful for the blood, sweat and tears that cascaded down my ancestors’ hands that built the White House; it provided shelter for many corrupt leaders, some of whom did not consider AfricanAmericans whole persons, though we’ve built this country. I just find it despicable to feel that everything is OK when people still suffer from Hurricane Katrina, schools just a walk away from our nation’s capital are in shambles, Haiti remains unstable, crooked cops are in charge of protecting us and Americans are losing their homes and businesses rapidly, while the media portrays only a portion of what I just described. The point is that there is still some major work to be done, especially amongst me and fellow AfricanAmericans. It is imperative that we stay informed about what’s going on

because being up to date helps us to become conscious, which ultimately leads to change. Even with an African-American president in office, we have more strides to make, and we cannot continue to ride the coattails of past generations any longer. Take Egypt for example. The people saw error in their government and decided it was time for a change, even though it was at the expense of some lives. Therefore, JASMINE KELLY I urge each Atlanta junior one of us to stay abreast of current events, know the basis of politics and check in with each other every once in a while. With that, I leave you with the words of Nikki Giovanni, one of my favorite poets and another African-American female activist — “There is always something to do. There are hungry people to feed, naked people to clothe, sick people to comfort and make well. And while I don't expect you to save the world, I do think it's not asking too much for you to love those with whom you sleep, share the happiness of those whom you call friend, engage those among you who are visionary and remove from your life those who offer you depression, despair and disrespect.”

TOPS to the NCAA tournament and some good finishers already.

BOTTOMS to having class during the NCAA tournament games. That probably explains all the empty seats in the classroom.

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MARCH 18, 2011

WKU

AtoZ

COLLEGE HEIGHTS HERALD

S is for Smoker

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Nicotine addict won't kick costly habit Each Friday, the Herald brings you a profile inspired by a letter of the alphabet.

By SPENCER JENKINS diversions@chherald.com

Bowling Green senior Jack Rolett sometimes walks to class because buying American Spirit cigarettes outweighs his need for gasoline. “I haven’t cut back because of price, so the drain on my account has gotten progressively worse,” Rolett said. “Living paycheck to paycheck is already cutting it close.” Rolett spends about $120 on cigarettes in one month, he said. “That adds up, but the thing is you do it in such small increments, and being addicted to a substance, you don’t even think about those increments adding up,” he said. “Because you think, ‘I need these cigarettes.’” Rolett, 24, started smoking his freshman year of college at Eastern Kentucky University. He was 18. “It was sort of peer check out pressure in a way,” he the video said. “I remember going online at through a rough part of a wkuherald.com relationship with someone else, and the people I was around in college at EKU smoked, and I started smoking out of stress.” For Rolett, the addiction started with “one here and there” when stressed, “one here and there” while drinking or socializing, and then it was one every day. Now, it’s a pack or more a day. “I smoke about a pack a day, but that fluctuates a lot,” he said. “What determines it overall is how the day or week has been.” Most of Rolett’s closest friends smoke, he said. Elizabethtown senior Jesse Willcut works with Rolett at the Technology Resource Center on campus. Their first conversation was over a cigarette outside. “It gives me someone to hang out with whenever we’re at work and you want to smoke with someone,” he said. Kathryn Steward, health educator at WKU’s Health Services, said nicotine ranks as one of the most addictive drugs. “They become addicted, and they don’t even realize it,” she said. Health risks that can arise in younger

DELAYNA EARLEY/HERALD

Scottsville senior Jack Rolett lights up a cigarette outside of his apartment. Rolett has been a smoker for five years. “You won’t quit until you really want to quit, and right now all of the risks of smoking are outweighed by my desire to smoke,” Rolett said.

smokers include decreased sex drive, bad breath, tooth and gum decay, and an increased risk of asthma, she said. Lung cancer is often caused by long-term smoking and is not common in young smokers. Rolett doesn’t talk about his smoking habit to his family, except for his stepmother, who constantly encourages him to quit, he said. Rolett said his mother’s smoking offended him when he was a child. “It had been drilled into my head that it was a bad, senseless thing to do,” he said. Steward said many college students find it socially acceptable and make up excuses including, “I only smoke when I drink.” “It’s not conscious,” she said. “You don’t say, ‘I’m going to be an addicted smoker.’ You find other reasons and excuses to continue smoking.”

UPCOMING EVENTS

Rolett said living above the Three Brothers bar downtown feeds his need to smoke. “I smoke a lot more when I’m intoxicated,” he said. “I chain smoke. I can go through a pack in a night.” Although he frequents bars often and enjoys smoking in them, he also isn’t totally opposed to the city’s new smoking ban, which prevents people from smoking inside restaurants and bars in Bowling Green. “I’m for it and opposed to it at the same time,” Rolett said. “I’m for it because I understand the effects of secondhand smoke and how detrimental they are, and people should not be subjected to that.” However, the smoking ban won’t affect his habit, he said. “I think I’ll smoke less. I take that back actually,” he said. “I’ll still smoke, because walking fifteen feet outside won’t deter me.”

WKU cigarette usage ■ Never smoked: 61.9 percent ■ Smoked, but not in the last 30 days: 16.6 percent ■ Smoked 1 to 9 days in the last 30 days: 8.5 percent ■ Smoked 10 to 29 days in the last 30 days: 5 percent ■ Smoked all 30 days: 7.9 percent ■ Smoked within the last 30 days: 21.5 percent Source: American College Health Association’s National College Health Assessment. The results come from 845 students who were surveyed from a random sample done every two years.

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COLLEGE HEIGHTS HERALD

REEL

CONTINUED FROM SPORTS

Myers said he knew when watching Perkins in high school that he had the leadership abilities and physical skills needed to perform well in college. Myers also said he could tell Perkins was “raised right� because of his solid grades and humility during the recruiting process. “He had tremendous leadership skills,� Myers said. “All the kids just gravitated towards him. And he threw the heck out of the ball and had three good pitches. “I knew if we could just clean him up a little bit on the delivery, he had a chance to be pretty good.� Perkins started 12 games for WKU during his freshman year, going 3-4 with a 5.27 ERA. He worked mostly in a weekend rotation that included two seniors, Shane Cameron and Matt Rid-

MARCH 18, 2011

ings. But after Cameron and Ridings graduated, Perkins suddenly became the ace of a young 2011 pitching staff that includes senior Brian Edelen, sophomore Taylor Haydel and freshman Justin Hageman. “I knew my job was going to be to take the ball on that Friday night start,� Perkins said. “It was going to be up to me to make the first game of the series a Tops win.� Perkins will go for his fourth win of the season Friday when WKU takes on Middle Tennessee at Nick Denes Field at 6 p.m. in the first game of a three-game series. Myers said he wants Perkins to continue developing the talent and leadership that first brought him to Perkins’ pond years ago. “I told Tanner he’s not a freshman anymore, and it’s time for him to lead by action,� Myers said. “So far he’s been outstanding.�

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SULASKI

CONTINUED FROM SPORTS

She has a 6-2 record in nine starts this year, totaling 33 strikeouts in 58 innings with a 1.21 ERA. Head Coach Tyra Perry said Sulaski’s work ethic serves as a quiet but constant example SULASKI of Lady Topper softball at its finest. “She’s very quiet,� she said. “She’s very much a leader by example. She’s not going to do a lot of ‘rah-rah’ or a lot of talking or instruction, but she is going to be that person that’s at the front of the line, doing everything with maximum effort.� Perry said what Sulaski lacks in age, she makes up for in character. “She’s a great leader on the team even though she’s a younger player,� she said. “Most important, she’s a person of character. If she says she’s going to do something, then she’s going to do it. “If you tell the team to run, then she’s going to run hard. She’s that type of player.� That kind of effort has had a definite ripple effect on the Lady Toppers. Sophomore Casey Clark said Sulaski pushes her to give her absolute best.

“I want to be as hard of a worker as her,� she said. “She definitely influences me to try my best and make people have the confidence in me that they have in her.� Clark said despite Sulaski’s focus on the field, she knows how to have a little fun, too. “People think she’s really quiet,� Clark said. “But once you get to know her, she’s hilarious and a lot of fun to hang out with.� How does the standout sophomore cope with all the extra pressure? Sulaski said her teammates share the load so well that she hasn’t even noticed. “The team’s made it really easy,� she said. “A lot of freshmen have stepped up, so I don’t really feel any pressure. I think everyone is equally important, so if I don’t step up, someone else will.� Perry said Sulaski was being modest about her role, but that’s what makes her an asset to the team. “I’m sure she feels pressure,� Perry said. “As good of a player as she is, she’s human. But one of the things that makes her such a good player is that she knows how to handle pressure and stays focused.� Sulaski and the rest of the Lady Toppers start conference play this weekend in Mobile, Ala., against South Alabama. They’ll play a doubleheader on Saturday at 1 and 3 p.m. and a third game on Sunday at noon.

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SPLIT

CONTINUED FROM SPORTS

For McDonald, that also meant a reset on his contract. He agreed to take a $100,000 pay cut, reverting his salary back to $250,000 — the salary on his original contract when he took the job in 2008 — for the next four years. McDonald acknowledged on- and off-court distractions caused by both the players and himself during his three seasons as head coach. Scottsville junior Zack Rockrohr said some of the team’s problems this year were more reflective of the players than of McDonald, so he was glad to see McDonald given another chance. “He took a pay cut, and he has a star-studded class coming in next year,� Rockrohr said. “I say give him another year or two.� McDonald also apologized for any personal distractions that he caused during his tenure but didn’t elaborate on any specifics other than his recent divorce. Former WKU student Shane Bearden said he was happy to see McDonald own up to his mistakes. “It took a lot of guts and heart for McDonald to admit his mistakes both personally and professionally and own up to them,� Bearden said. “Maybe that’s what’s needed for this team to turn the corner, because what was going on within the program was not indicative of WKU basketball. “Three years is a very short time for a measuring stick for a new coach. People were calling for (former coach Darrin) Horn to be let go after three seasons as well.� But there are those who still aren’t fully on board with McDonald as the head coach. Big Spring junior Dana Lucas said McDonald needs to prove he can keep those distractions away from the basketball court. “I believe a successful coach is one who knows how to leave his personal issues, such as his divorce, outside of work,� she said. “He clearly admitted during the press conference that he was not capable of that.� Jeff Howe, a WKU fan from Owensboro, said after hearing McDonald will

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remain as the coach, he doesn’t think he’ll be coming to any games next year. “I stopped going to the basketball games this year and wanted to last year,� he said. “Ken McDonald has hurt the program bad enough that it won’t come back with him as coach. All the rumors about the things that have gone on can’t be all rumors. “I thought he would be fired during this season and (Assistant Coach) Ray Harper would be coaching. I believe Harper is the man for the job.� The idea of Harper as the head coach was a popular one among those opposing McDonald's new contract this week. Lucas also endorsed Harper as the person she’d want leading the team. Harper previously spent 12 years as head coach at Kentucky Wesleyan and Oklahoma City University. “The head coach we need is already on our staff,� Lucas said. “Harper is our answer for the turnaround we’re looking for. He knows how to continually motivate our athletes on and off the court and more importantly in the classroom.� But Versailles junior Becca Todd said in the end, she just wants what’s best for the program — whether that includes McDonald at the helm or not. “I just hope McDonald is able to refocus himself and the team in the coming months to return the WKU basketball program back to where it should be,� she said.

MTSU

CONTINUED FROM SPORTS

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Three years is a very short time for a measuring stick for a new coach. People were calling for (former coach Darrin) Horn to be let go after three seasons as well."

wkuherald.com

41st annual

Student Research

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Guest Speakers

Dr. Elizabeth Chiseri--Strater, Professor, The University of North Carolinea, Greensboro, Department of English. “Researching the University with an Ethnographic Lens�; Lecture Time: 12:30pm Dr. David Frayer, Professor, University of Kansas, Department of Anthropology “Neandertals and Us�; Lecture Time: 4:15pm iPod Touch drawing for WKU Students will be held at both lectures. Students must have IDs swiped and must be present to win.

Conference: Saturday, March 26th | Gary Ransdell Hall 7:30am - 6:30pm The conference is sponsored by the WKU Student Research Council, with generous support from the OfďŹ ce of the Provost.

If season performance will be a barometer for the weekend, then the Toppers have to like their chances of extending the all-time edge against Middle Tennessee. The Blue Raiders’ rough season started in January, when players Conlon Palo and Damian Seguen were dismissed from the team following rape charges. Things didn’t get any easier when the actual season began, as Middle Tennessee suffered a threegame Opening Weekend sweep to Portland. The Blue Raiders were swept the next weekend at home by Jacksonville State. Overall, Middle Tennessee started its season 2-10 before a recent threegame winning streak. As far as common opponents between the two teams go, Middle Tennessee lost 5-3 against Lipscomb and 11-3 to Belmont, while WKU beat both the Bisons and the Bruins this season. The Toppers have recorded double-digit runs their last two games, a 13-5 win over Illinois on Sunday and an 11-6 victory at Belmont on Tuesday. "We've picked a good time to hit well, and we're pitching well too," junior right fielder Ryan Hutchison said following Tuesday’s game. "If we keep this up, then we should do well this weekend." Game times Saturday and Sunday will be at 3 p.m. and 1 p.m., respectively.

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For live coverage of WKU baseball's home series against Middle Tennessee this weekend, check out

WKUHERALD.COM 03.18.11

COLLEGE HEIGHTS HERALD • Vol. 86, No. 40 • WESTERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY

BASEBALL

MEN'S BASKETBALL

Fans split on keeping McDonald By COLE CLAYBOURN sports@chherald.com

ARMANDO SANCHEZ/HERALD

Sophomore pitcher Tanner Perkins has stepped into the role of WKU's No. 1 pitcher this season. Perkins, who first bonded with WKU pitching coach Matt Myers while fishing on a recruiting visit, is 3-1 this year as the Toppers' Friday night starter.

The Ree

WKU students and fans have had a few days to digest Monday’s announcement that Ken McDonald will return next season as head coach of the men’s basketball program. The news settled better with some than others. Centertown junior Nathan Bishop was one fan who saw McDonald’s return as a good decision. He said while this season may have been disappointing, he believes McDonald’s best seasons are ahead of him. “The worst season he has had over the last three years was a .500 season,” Bishop said. “He has shown a step in the right direction by openly discussing the need to limit distractions and has brought in a great recruiting class.” McDonald told the media and fans at a press conference Monday that he and the team were “hitting the reset button.” SEE SPLIT, PAGE 6

SOFTBALL

Dea

Lady Tops find leader with Sulaski

Fishing outing lands WKU its No. 1 pitcher

By NICK BRATCHER sports@chherald.com

By BRAD STEPHENS sports@chherald.com

WKU pitching coach Matt Myers is an avid fisherman. But when Myers went fishing with a Rockcastle County left-hander named Tanner Perkins in 2008, he caught more than just a fish. He caught the Toppers’ future ace. Myers was making an in-home visit with Perkins, then the top-rated pitching prospect in the state of Kentucky. Myers knew Perkins liked to fish, so he suggested they both go out to the pond on Perkins’ property. “If I catch the most fish, you commit to WKU,” Myers told him. “If you catch the most, then you tell me what I’ve got to do.” Luckily for Topper fans, Myers beat Perkins, two fish to one. Perkins went on to sign his letter of intent with WKU on Nov. 14, 2008. He said his early relationship with Myers was the biggest factor in coming to WKU. “Having a personal relationship with the main guy that was going to be coaching me really made me feel like this place was home,” Perkins said. Now in his sophomore season, Perkins has established himself as the Toppers’ Friday night starter. He’s 3-1 with 2.84 ERA this season and is coming off his best start, a complete game 3-1 victory over Illinois last

Friday. Perkins allowed just one run and retired 21 straight Illinois batters at one point. His performance came on the heels of his only rough appearance, a loss to the College of Charleston in which he surrendered seven runs in just over four innings of work. WKU Head Coach Chris Finwood said Perkins’ competitiveness helped him recover from the bad outing. “He bounced back from his start that wasn’t good with his best one of the year,” Finwood said. “The key for a Friday guy, as much as stuff, is mentality. And Tanner’s a tough-minded guy.”

Constant noise fills the WKU Softball Complex as opposing teams chatter and cheer. Umpires shout about called third strikes and balls that land just foul, and parents yell back about each call they “miss.” It seems poetic that the Lady Topper trusted most in all the noise doesn’t like to make much of it herself. Sophomore pitcher Mallorie Sulaski, a member of the pre-season All-Sun Belt Conference Team, is an integral part of a three-player pitching rotation for WKU (14-8) this season. Sulaski said she draws from her off-field personality to stay poised in every on-field situation. “I think I’m just a calm person,” she said. “It’s just my demeanor. I try not to get too overexcited about things.” Sulaski said she prefers her game to reflect that quiet nature. “If anything is getting too crazy or out of control, I just remind myself that I need to calm down and relax and play the game,” she said. That relaxation is paying big dividends. Sulaski has already pitched a no-hitter this season and notched a win against No. 6 Michigan on March 13.

SEE REEL, PAGE 6

SEE SULASKI, PAGE 6

If I catch the most fish, you commit to WKU. If you catch the most, then you tell me what I’ve got to do.” —MATT MYERS Pitching coach

BASEBALL

Tops begin conference play with rival MTSU By BRAD STEPHENS sports@chherald.com

WKU's biggest rivalry is about to add more heat on the baseball diamond. Thanks to new conference guidelines, the Toppers (10-6) will get two chances at the Blue Raiders this season, starting with a three-game set this weekend at Nick Denes Field. The teams will meet again May 19-21 in Murfreesboro, Tenn., during the last weekend of the regular season. In prior years, Sun Belt teams played just one regular season series against each other. But with the departure of New Orleans from the conference, teams will now play their natural rival twice during the season. Head Coach Chris Finwood said he’s a fan of the new schedule. “I think it’s great for the league,” Finwood said. “Having every team play their traditional rival home-and-home during the

season just adds to the rivalries.” WKU and Middle Tennessee have played each other 203 times dating back to the teams’ first meeting 100 years ago. WKU holds a slight 106-95-2 edge in the all-time series. The Toppers have won four of their last five games this season and will also get a boost when they welcome junior center fielder Kes Carter back to the lineup Friday. Carter missed the team’s last four games with a calf strain. First pitch Friday is scheduled for 6 p.m. Sophomore Tanner Perkins will be the Toppers’ starting pitcher. “I know they’re struggling at the plate, but you still can’t come out and leave the ball over the middle of the plate because they’ll hit it,” Perkins said. “I just have to hit my spots, and the guys behind me will back me up.” SEE MTSU, PAGE 6

JAKE D. STEVENS/HERALD

Junior outfielder Jared Andreoli scores in the ninth inning after a wild pitch by Belmont freshman pitcher Blake Harvey at Shelby Park in Nashville last Tuesday. WKU won 11-6.

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